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May 20, 2025 27 mins

Ever wonder what it really takes to build a national movement for mental health and aging? In this inspiring behind-the-scenes episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the heart, hustle, and healing that built the Center for Mental Health & Aging.

You’ll hear where it all started—from working late nights with two small children at home to battling systemic bias in healthcare settings. I’ll walk you through the moments I nearly gave up, the surprising victories, and the “why” that keeps me going.

If you’re a mental health professional, aging services provider, or change-maker with a mission-driven heart, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • Why I left a successful career at the VA to start the Center for Mental Health & Aging
  • The barriers professionals face when working with older adults—and how we can solve them
  • How our signature GeroChampions program evolved into a national training movement
  • The step-by-step vision I mapped out (with a thermometer!) to earn CEU accreditation
  • How we’ve trained thousands of professionals and launched over 30 courses
  • Why there's no expiration date on healing, transformation, and love
  • What post-traumatic growth has to teach us about aging well
  • And why older adults deserve more than just care—they deserve dignity and mental health equity

GO TO SHOW NOTES HERE

Resources Mentioned:

 

Remember...

it’s only with your help that we can meet the mental health needs of older adults. So thank you for being here—and thank you for doing your part.


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If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a colleague or friend. Together, we're building a movement for mental health and aging. Because there is no expiration date on healing, transformation, and growth. 

 

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